Apple to spend $100 million to promote diversity

AUSTIN — As Apple continues its rapid growth here, the tech giant says it is strengthening its national investments in education, technology and venture funding programs as part of a goal to combat injustice faced by communities of color.

The donations are part of a $100 million racial equity and justice Initiative, which is designed to help reduce barriers and opportunities for people of color across the country.

The programs are the first the company has named as part of the initiative since it was first announced in June, as social justice protests erupted around the country.

“We are all accountable to the urgent work of building a more just, more equitable world — and these new projects send a clear signal of Apple’s enduring commitment,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a written statement. “We’re launching REJI’S latest initiatives with partners across a broad range of industries and backgrounds — from students to teachers, developers to entrepreneurs, and community organizers to justice advocates — working together to empower communities that have borne the brunt of racism and discrimination for far too long.”

Apple will contribute to the Propel Center, an Atlanta-based innovation and learning hub for historically black colleges and universities, will found a Detroitbased Apple developer academy to support coding and tech education, and will invest in New York-based Harlem Capital, which focuses on diverse entre

preneurs.

Apple said the initiative will complement the company’s internal efforts to improve diversity and inclusion.

Apple said in its latest diversity report that 53 percent of new hires in the U.S. are from historically underrepresented groups in tech including women and people who identify as Black, Hispanic, Native American or Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander.

As of 2018, the company reported that 45 percent of its tech employees were Anglo, 35 percent were Asian, 8 percent Hispanic, 6 percent Black, 2 percent multiracial and 1 percent Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. The company said 77 percent of its tech workforce is male.

Apple’s new initiative comes as the company’s presence in Austin rapidly grows. Austin is Apple’s largest hub outside of its California headquarters and the company has significantly increased its investment in the area in recent year. Currently, it has about 7,000 employees in the area, a number that has grown more than 50 percent in the past five years.

In November 2019, the tech giant also broke ground on a new campus as part of its expansion locally. The $1 billion, 3 millionsquare-foot campus will initially house 5,000 employees when it opens in 2022 and have the capacity to grow to 15,000, according to the company.

While none of the initiatives announced Wednesday are directly tied to Austin, Apple does work on other diversity-related initiatives with Austin ties, including work on college and K-12 levels.

The Propel Center also will act as a national resource and Harlem Capital invests in companies nationally.

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, said the initiatives build on work the company has already been doing, including in Austin.

In Central Texas, the company works with the Austin Community College District to offer a coding program that gives students from kindergarten through the workforce coding and technology training.

“We’re trying to make sure students can get excited by what the tech sector can be and how it can intersect their passions, and how technology can take you further in pursuing the passions, or interests that you have,” Jackson said. “It may not have anything to do with technology, except that you have a

passion for social justice and technology to be the connector to help you enable that passion.

Apple’s initiative is one of a number of commitments from technology companies in support of diversity following the summer’s Black Lives Matter protests.

IBM announced in September that it would put $100 million into an initiative designed to bring technology, skill development and other resources to historically black colleges and universities.

Last year, Paypal also announced a $530 million plan to support Black-owned businesses and support economic equality. In June, Facebook said it would commit $10 million to antiracist groups.

Apple’s Wednesday announcement gives the first a glimpse into more specifics for following its $100 million pledge to combat racism. The grants and investments focus primarily on expanding opportunities through new grants, scholarships, programs and investments.

Apple is making a $25 million contribution and partnering to help launch the Propel Center, which is expected to act as a resource to all historically black colleges and universities, including Huston-tillotson University in Austin and Texas-based Prairie View A&M University, the company said.

The center will offer a range of educational tracks including AI and machine learning, agricultural technology, social justice, entertainment arts, app development, design and creative arts, career preparation, and entrepreneurship.

Apple also will be working to help develop curriculum, mentorship and internship opportunities, according to the company.